Although hardship at work contributes to the deterioration of employees' health, studies also show that being employed helps to keep people healthy, particularly through access to care.

The relationship between individuals’ health and the labour market has been the subject of many debates and a substantial amount of legislation. The current legislative frameworks, based on compensation and reparation, do not sufficiently take into account the complexity of these interactions, further increased by the ageing population, and professional careers that are longer and less secure. Increased prevention and career security are necessary in order to address health risks.